Species: Silene acaulis var. exscapa (All.) DC.

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Silene acaulis var. exscapa (All.) DC.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Caryophyllaceae

Genus:

Silene

Species Synonyms:

Silene acaulis ssp. arctica A. &D. Löve

Common Names:

moss campion

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Yukon Territory - Northwest Territories - Arctic Island, south to southern British Columbia - southwestern Alberta - northwestern Saskatchewan - Hudson Bay - eastern Quebec - Newfoundland

Saskatchewan:

northwestern Saskatchewan; Lake Athabasca

Ecoregion:

Athabasca Plain

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

gravel pavement barrens in sand dunes

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Moss campion is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon and is regionally restricted to one general area of the province. Most local populations are small. No threats are known or anticipated at this time.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

3 – 6 cm

Roots:

taproot

Stems:

cushion-forming, tufted, much branched

Leaves:

opposite, sessile, overlapping leaf bases persistent, blade 4 – 12 mm long, 2 – 3 mm wide, linear to lance-shaped, mostly hairless

Inflorescence:

flowers solitary at ends of branches

Flowers:

commonly unisexual and male and female flowers on separate plants; sepals to 10 mm long, cup-shaped, purplish; petals exceeding sepals, oblong to inversely lance-shaped, rounded, notched at apex, purple to lavender

Fruits:

capsule barely exserted, 3-loculed, teeth 6

*KEY TO SILENE* IN SASKATCHEWAN**

1 Sepals more or less hairless, if at all hairy, not glandular	2
1 Sepals hairy, may be glandular	6

2 Plants cushion-forming; leaves to 1.5 cm long, linear, densely crowded and hairy margined; flowers purple or lavender	S. acaulis var. exscapa
2 Plants not cushion-forming; leaves not as above; flowers white or pink	3

3 Petals pinkish; stem with sticky bands	S. antirrhina
3 Petals white; stem without sticky bands	4

4 Sepals 4 – 5 mm long, 10-nerved	S. sibirica
4 Sepals 8 – 12 mm long, 20-nerved, at least at base	5

5 Sepals inflated at maturity, 20-nerved, nerves connected entire length by a network of veinlets, not constricted at mouth, papery textured; inflorescence open	S. vulgaris
5 Sepals not inflated at maturity, 20-nerved, 10 long nerves, 10 short, veinlets hardly forming a network, sepals constricted at mouth, firm textured; inflorescence narrow	S. cserei

6 Styles 3; capsule opening by 6 teeth	7
6 Styles 5 (4); capsule opening by 5 or 10 teeth	9

7 Sepal nerves 20 – 30	S. conoidea
7 Sepal nerves 10	8

8 Sepals 15 – 30 mm long; petal claws > 12 mm	S. noctiflora
8 Sepals 5 – 8 mm long; petal claws 6 – 10 mm long	S. menziesii var. menziesii

9 Sepals 5 – 8 mm long; stems generally branched, lax	S. menziesii var. menziesii
9 Sepals > 1 cm; stems branched or unbranched, erect	10

10 Plants with unisexual flowers on different plants	S. pratensis
10 Plants bisexual or with unisexual flowers on the same plant	S. drummondii var. drummondii